Snow Removal Device and Methods for Using and Constructing Same

ABSTRACT

A snow removal device and methods for removing snow from overhead areas. The device has an arcuate blade with a shaft extending throughout the longitudinal axis of the blade and coupled to the blade at one or more points. Wheels are coupled to either end of the shaft, rotating freely as the blade and shaft remain in a fixed position. A coupler attaches to the shaft and a positioner connects the blade to the coupler such that when the coupler is taut, the blade is maintained in a fixed position and when the coupler is slack, the blade is free to move within a predetermined range. The device is placed on a roof and rolled to the peak while the coupler is slack. The device is pulled downwardly causing the positioner to become taut and maintain the blade in a fixed position optimal for snow gathering and removal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the U.S. provisional patentapplication entitled “Snow Removal Device”, having Ser. No. 62/007,023,filed Jun. 3, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a device and methodsfor removing snow. More specifically, the present disclosure relates toa device and methods for removing snow from overhead areas such as aroof.

An ice dam is an ice build-up on roofs that causes water damage to thebuilding. Ice dams on roofs form when accumulated snow on a pitched roofmelts and the water flows down the roof under a top level of snow to thebottom of the roof and refreezes. Ice then accumulates at the bottomedge of the roof around the eaves, forming icicles from dripping water,but of more concern forming ice dams. The ice dams prevent the flow ofwater from later melting snow off the roof. The water accumulates abovethe ice dam, eventually seeping into the building, potentially damagingthe roof and/or insulation, as well as the building's internalstructures.

The simplest and least expensive means of preventing the formation ofice dams is to remove the snow completely from the roof before thefreeze-thaw cycle begins. Generally, this requires standing on a ladderand attempting to pull the snow down with the same shovel used to removesnow from sidewalks and driveways. However, this is ineffective becausethe peak of the roof cannot be reached. Some stand on the roof andshovel as if standing on the ground, a dangerous practice. Others usesomething called a roof rake. None offers a complete and safe method forpreventing ice dams by removing snow from the roof.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, in one aspect of the present invention, a snow removaldevice for removing snow from overhead areas is provided. The snowremoval device includes: a blade having a longitudinal axis; a shaftextending through the longitudinal axis of the blade, the shaft coupledto the blade, and the shaft having a pair of shaft ends; two wheels,each of the two wheels coupling to each of the pair of shaft ends; acoupler attached to the shaft; and a positioner having a pair ofpositioner ends, a first of the pair of positioner ends connecting to afront side of the blade, a second of the pair of positioner endsconnecting to the coupler, the positioner configured for maintaining theblade in position during snow removal.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for removing snowfrom overhead areas is provided. The method includes the steps of:placing a snow removal device on a lower edge of a roof, the snowremoval device having a blade, the blade having front and rear sides, ashaft passing through the blade and coupled to the blade, a plurality ofwheels at ends of the shaft, a coupler coupled to the shaft, a handlecoupled to the coupler, and a positioner coupled between the coupler andthe blade; rolling the snow removal device to the peak of the roof viamovement of the handle; adjusting a position of the blade via movementof the handle to position the front side of the blade to contact thesnow; and pulling the snow removal device via the handle from the peakof the roof to the lower edge of the roof to allow the snow to fall fromthe roof, the positioner maintaining the blade in position during thepulling.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for constructing asnow removal device for removing snow from overhead areas is provided.The method includes: inserting a shaft into an arcuate blade, the bladehaving a longitudinal axis, the shaft extending through the longitudinalaxis of the blade, the shaft having a pair of shaft ends; coupling theshaft to the blade at one or more points; coupling each of a pair ofwheels to each of the pair of shaft ends; attaching a coupler to anapproximate midpoint of the shaft; and connecting a positioner having apair of positioner ends, a first of the pair of positioner ends coupledto a front side of the blade, a second of the pair of positioner endscoupled to the coupler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments, will be better understood when read inconjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration,there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presentlypreferred. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snow removal device in accordance withone embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the snow removal device positioned fordeployment in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the bottom of a snow removal device inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the snow removal device in position atthe peak of a roof prior to snow removal; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the snow removal device removing snowfrom the roof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology may be used in the following description forconvenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower” and “upper” and“top” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to whichreference is made. The terminology includes the words above specificallymentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Where a term is provided in the singular, the inventors also contemplateaspects of the disclosure described by the plural of that term. As usedin this specification and in the appended claims, the singular forms“a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearlydictates otherwise, e.g., “a blade” may include a plurality of blades.Thus, for example, a reference to “a method” includes one or moremethods, and/or steps of the type described herein and/or which willbecome apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading thisdisclosure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this disclosure belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of the present disclosure, the preferredmethods, constructs and materials are now described. All publicationsmentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.Where there are discrepancies in terms and definitions used inreferences that are incorporated by reference, the terms used in thisapplication shall have the definitions given herein.

Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for snow removal. In oneaspect of the disclosure, apparatus and methods for removing snow fromoverhead areas such as a roof are provided.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a snow removal deviceconfigured for removing snow from overhead areas such as a roof,especially a pitched roof, is provided.

The snow removal device includes an arcuate blade with a shaft extendingthroughout the longitudinal axis of the blade and coupled to the bladeat one or more points. Wheels are coupled to either end of the shaft,rotating freely and independent of the blade. A coupler attaches to theshaft and allows the blade (which is also coupled to the shaft at one ormore points) to be positioned via movement of the coupler or a handleattached thereto. A positioner connects the working edge of the blade(i.e., the edge located at the bottommost end of the blade during use)to the coupler, such that when the positioner is taut, the working edgeof the blade is preventing from rotating beyond a maximum distanceposition (i.e., the working edge of blade 102 is located at its maximumdistance from the coupler 112), and when the positioner is slack, theblade is free to rotate between the maximum distance from the couplerand a position in which the working edge is in contact with the coupler.

More specifically, FIG. 1 depicts snow removal device 100 in accordancewith one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the depictedembodiment of the present disclosure, snow removal device 100 includesblade 102, shaft 104, a plurality of wheels 106, handle 108, positioner110, coupler 112, hinge 118, and fasteners 150.

In the depicted embodiment, blade 102 is arcuate, concave on the frontside 101 (i.e., the side facing the user during use), and convex on therear side 103 (i.e., the side facing away from the user during use). Inthe depicted embodiment, the radius of the side walls 120 isapproximately seven (7) inches, however, alternate radii may besubstituted without departing from the scope of the present invention.Also, in the depicted embodiment, the height of the blade isapproximately 14 inches and the width is approximately 15 inches,however alternate dimensions may be substituted without departing fromthe scope hereof. For example, the height may be twenty (20) or twentyfour (24) inches as non-limiting examples. Also, alternate bladeconfigurations may be substituted without departing from the scopehereof including, without limitation, semi-ovate and flat. Shaft 104extends throughout the full longitudinal axis of blade 102 and throughthe side walls 120 of blade 120 in the approximate center of side walls120. Shaft 104 is coupled at one or more points to blade 102 to allowthe blade to be positioned via coupler 112 (and its connection to shaft104) or a handle 108 attached to coupler 112.

In the depicted embodiment, the shaft 104 has a pair of threaded ends.Wheels 106 include wheel apertures at their centers that surround theperimeter of shaft 104 such that wheels 106 rotate around shaft 104.Wheels are held to either end of shaft 104 via use of threaded fasteners150 or the like attached to either end of shaft 104, wherein thethreaded fasteners have a larger diameter than the diameter of the wheelapertures. Such an attachment allows wheels 106 to rotate independentfrom shaft 104. That is, wheels 106 may be rotated while shaft 104 andits coupled blade 102 remain in a fixed position. However, alternatemethods of coupling wheels 106 to shaft 104 may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope hereof.

In some embodiments of the present invention, spacers are utilized tooffset wheels 106 from the exterior edges of side walls 120, however,such spacers are not required to implement the present invention. In thedepicted embodiment, wheels 106 have approximately the same radius asthe curvature of blade 102; however, alternate dimensions may besubstituted.

In the depicted embodiment, coupler 112 attaches to the shaft 104 at theapproximate midpoint of the shaft 104, however, alternate locations maybe substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

Positioner 110 has a pair of ends, a first end connecting to front side101 of blade 102 proximal to a working edge of the blade and a secondend connecting to the coupler 112. In the depicted embodiment, thepositioner 110 is designed to allow the blade to freely rotate to aposition in which the rear side 103 thereof glides along the snow whenthe device is moved from a lower edge of a roof to an upper edge of aroof. Then, when the blade is placed in snow removal position as furtherdiscussed herein, the positioner retains the blade 102 fromoverextending beyond its maximum distance position when the snow exertspressure on the front side 101 of the blade 102 during removal of thesnow.

In the depicted embodiment, positioner 110 is in the form of a chain.However, it is understood by those of ordinary skill that this form isnot a limitation, and that the positioner can be any device capable oflimiting the movement of blade 102 including, without limitation, acord, an accordion hinge, and a hinged rod.

In the depicted embodiment, the blade 102 has a working edge having aplurality of serrations 114 configured for breaking ice and compactedsnow masses, however, alternate types of edges may be substitutedwithout departing from the scope hereof.

The front side 101 of the blade 102 has a plurality of ribs 116 thatextend perpendicular to the shaft 104 and are configured for breakingice and compacted snow masses. The ribs have an outer edge 152 that issubstantially coplanar with the outer edges of blade 102, and an inneredge 154 that follows the curvature of the front side 101 of blade 102.The ribs also provide stability to blade 102 and its attached shaft 104;however, they are not required to implement the present invention.

Coupler 112 allows a handle such as handle 108 to be permanently orremovably attached to its distal end. Handle 108 assists a user withmanipulating snow removal device 100 by allowing, inter alia, the userto be located at a greater distance from and/or at an angle relative tothe snow being removed.

In one embodiment, handle 108 rotatably attaches to the coupler 112 viaa hinge 118, such as a ball hinge as a non-limiting example. Hinge 118allows handle 108 to rotate, at the option of the user, between a firstposition in which the handle is parallel to coupler 112 to a secondposition in which the longitudinal axis of handle 108 is aligned withthe longitudinal axis of coupler 112. However, greater or lesser rangesof motions may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

In FIG. 2, the snow removal device 100 is shown in cross-section. Shaft104 couples to wheels 106 through the center of the wheels, allowingwheel rotation. Shaft 104 couples to blade 102 through the approximatecenter of the arcuate side walls 120 and ribs 116 of blade, and shaft104 is coupled to blade 102 at one or more points along shaft 104. FIG.3 shows the snow removal device 100 when the positioner 110 is in one ofa variety of slack positions. In this position, the coupler 112 islocated in closer proximity to the working edge 158 of blade 102 ascompared to its maximum distance position. However, the design and/orlength of positioner 110 allows the rear side 103 of the blade 102 tomove up and down across the snow as, for example, the snow removaldevice is pushed to the peak of a roof prior to snow removal and as thewheels rotate around the shaft 104.

FIG. 4 depicts the snow removal device 100 from the bottom. In thedepicted embodiment, the rear side 103 of the blade 102 is smooth andconvex, however, alternate surfaces may be substituted without departingfrom the scope hereof. The front, working edge 158 of the blade 102 hasserrations 114 for chipping at snow and ice. The positioner 110 allowsthe working edge 158 to extend toward and away from the coupler 112 asthe coupler 112 moves between its taut and slack positions.

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a method of removing snow 122 from roof 120 usingan exemplary embodiment of the snow removal device 100. Snow removaldevice 100 is placed onto roof 120 via manipulation of handle 108 or bymanually placing the wheeled portion of device 100 on the lower edge ofroof 120. In this initial position, positioner 110 is typically slackdue to the pressure exerted on the rear side 103 of the blade by thesnow 122 on the roof 120. The user may manipulate handle 108 to exertpressure on coupler 112 and thereby roll the wheeled portion of device100 from the lower edge of roof 120 to an upper edge thereof. Duringthis movement, the smooth bottom of the convex rear side 103 of theblade 102 easily slides over the snow 122 as the wheels 106 rotate.

When the wheeled portion of device 100 nears the upper edge of roof 120,the user manipulates the handle, thereby manipulating coupler 112 torotate the position of the blade 102 from one in which the rear side 103of the blade is lying on the snow to one in which the working edge 158of the blade engages the surface of the roof or a position as near to itas possible depending upon the depth of the snow, etc. In one suchmethod, the angle of the rear side of blade 102 relative to the roof 120may be in the range of forty-five (45) to ninety (90) degrees, however,alternate angles may be substituted without departing from the scopehereof. After the blade is rotated to the desired position by the uservia handle 108 and positioner 112, the snow removal device 100 is pulleddownwardly along the roof 120, the front side 101 of blade 102 pushingthe snow 122 downwardly off the edge of the roof thereby removing snowfrom the roof. During this process, if not already completely taut,positioner 110 extends to a substantially taut position to retain blade102 at an optimal snow removal angle relative to coupler 112 as thewheels 106 rotate around the shaft 104 by preventing over-rotation ofthe blade 102 due to the weight of the snow being removed. The step ofextending the positioner 110 of the device 100 from slack to tautincludes exerting pressure on the handle 108 thereby causing the coupler112 to pull the device 100 downwardly along the roof while the snowbeing removed exerts pressure on the working edge of the blade, therebycausing the blade to rotate in a counterclockwise manner until thepositioner is fully taut. Once the positioner is taut, the blade 102begins to pull the snow 122 downwardly along the roof 120.

Although the depicted embodiment shows a non-adjustable positioner,alternate embodiments are envisioned in which the length of thepositioner may be adjusted as desired by the user, thereby adjusting theposition of the blade 102 relative to coupler 112 during snow removal.

In one embodiment of the method, the step of placing a snow removaldevice 100 onto the roof 120 is preceded by the step of attaching thehandle 108 to the coupler 112 or the hinge 118 associated with thecoupler. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, once attached, the method ofplacing a snow removal device 100 onto the roof 120 may also includerotating the handle 108 relative to the coupler 112 via hinge 118throughout an angle of zero to one hundred eighty degrees relative tothe coupler. That is, hinge 118 allows a user located on the ground toutilize handle 108 to manipulate coupler 112 as described herein at avariety of angles to be selected by the user to best accommodate theheight of the roof and height of the user. However, alternate angleranges may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

Referring to the device 100 as depicted in FIG. 1, a method forconstructing a snow removal device for removing snow from overhead areassuch as a roof, comprising the steps of inserting shaft 104 having apair of ends into an arcuate blade 102 throughout the longitudinal axisof the blade, coupling the blade to the shaft at one or more points,coupling a pair of wheels 106 to either end of the shaft 104, attachingcoupler 112 to the shaft 104 at the approximate longitudinal midpoint ofthe shaft and connecting a first end of positioner 110 to the workingedge of blade 102 and a second end to the coupler 112. In embodiments ofthe present invention in which the blade 102 includes ribs, shaft 104 isalso inserted therethrough.

In the depicted embodiment, when inserting the shaft 104 through thefull longitudinal axis of the blade 102, the shaft extends through thecenter of the arcuate blade 102. However, alternate shaft locations maybe substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

After attaching the coupler 112 to the shaft 104, the handle 108 isattached to the coupler 112 via a hinge 118, the latter allowing theuser to adjust the position of the handle relative to the coupler 112during use.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisdisclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, butit is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A snow removal device for removing snow from overhead areascomprising: a blade having a longitudinal axis; a shaft extendingthrough the longitudinal axis of the blade, the shaft coupled to theblade, and the shaft having a pair of shaft ends; two wheels, each ofthe two wheels coupling to each of the pair of shaft ends; a couplerattached to the shaft; and a positioner having a pair of positionerends, a first of the pair of positioner ends connecting to a front sideof the blade, a second of the pair of positioner ends connecting to thecoupler, the positioner configured for maintaining the blade in positionduring snow removal.
 2. The snow removal device according to claim 1,wherein the blade is arcuate.
 3. The snow removal device according toclaim 2, wherein the blade has a concave front side.
 4. The snow removaldevice according to claim 1, wherein the blade has arcuate side wallshaving a center and the shaft extends through the full longitudinal axisof the blade and the center of the arcuate side walls.
 5. The snowremoval device according to claim 1, wherein the blade has a workingedge having a plurality of serrations.
 6. The snow removal deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the coupler attaches to an approximatemidpoint of the shaft.
 7. The snow removal device according to claim 1,wherein the curvature of the blade and wheels have approximately thesame radius.
 8. The snow removal device according to claim 1 furthercomprising: a handle, the handle attaching to the coupler.
 9. The snowremoval device according to claim 8 wherein the handle is removablyattached to the coupler via a hinge.
 10. The snow removal deviceaccording to claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of ribs located ona front side of the blade perpendicular to the shaft.
 11. The snowremoval device according to claim 1, wherein the positioner isadjustable.
 12. A method for removing snow from overhead areascomprising the steps of: placing a snow removal device on a lower edgeof a roof, the snow removal device having a blade, the blade havingfront and rear sides, a shaft passing through the blade and coupled tothe blade, a plurality of wheels at ends of the shaft, a coupler coupledto the shaft, a handle coupled to the coupler, and a positioner coupledbetween the coupler and the blade; rolling the snow removal device tothe peak of the roof via movement of the handle; adjusting a position ofthe blade via movement of the handle to position the front side of theblade to contact the snow; and pulling the snow removal device via thehandle from the peak of the roof to the lower edge of the roof to allowthe snow to fall from the roof, the positioner maintaining the blade inposition during the pulling.
 13. The method according to claim 11,wherein at least one of the group consisting of the steps of rolling,pushing, and combinations thereof include rotating the handle relativeto the coupler.
 14. A method for constructing a snow removal device forremoving snow from overhead areas comprising the steps of: inserting ashaft into an arcuate blade, the blade having a longitudinal axis, theshaft extending through the longitudinal axis of the blade, the shafthaving a pair of shaft ends; coupling the shaft to the blade at one ormore points; coupling each of a pair of wheels to each of the pair ofshaft ends; attaching a coupler to an approximate midpoint of the shaft;and connecting a positioner having a pair of positioner ends, a first ofthe pair of positioner ends coupled to a front side of the blade, asecond of the pair of positioner ends coupled to the coupler.
 15. Themethod according to claim 13, wherein the blade has arcuate side wallshaving a center and the shaft extends through a longitudinal axis of theblade through the center of the arcuate side walls.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 13 further comprising: attaching a handle to thecoupler via a hinge.